13,792

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the General Assembly could enact only statewide laws on

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that subject.

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I think it is quite obvious that Maryland's

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greatest natural resource is the Chesapeake Bay. The

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Chesapeake Bay is the greatest natural oyster bed in

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America, and probably in the world.

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In February of 1966, the Wye Institute, and

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that is spelled W-y-e, made a very interesting, complete

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report on the seafood industry in the State of Maryland.

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This report, Ladies and Gentlemen, is an eye opener.

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The Wye Institute is a non-profit organization,

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chartered in the State of Maryland, sponsored by Eastern

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Shore leaders, and this report is endorsed by the Eastern

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Shore leaders who head up the Wye Institute.

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The drop in oyster production in the State of

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Maryland, Ladies and Gentlemen, in the last eighty-five

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years has been shocking. In the last eighty-five years

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the drop in production of oysters has been nine per cent.

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A primary cause of this drop and everything I

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am saying now is taken directly from this report of the

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Wye Institute, the primary cause of this drop has been the